Mandy Lee Miller – Must Have’s for the Kids

We’ve been talking to some awesome South African parenting bloggers about some of their favorite things for their kids. From places to visit, toys, clothing stores, snacks etc. This time we talked Many Lee Miller from Pregnant in Cape Town. Take a look at some of her must have favorite items.

Child safety in car seats is so much my passion that I created an entire national awareness initiative around it. This car seat is the one that I chose to represent that initiative. A car seat really is the only purchase any parent really NEEDS. There is no alternative available. This particular car seat is the best of the best. It allows rear facing (which is the safest way for any child to travel) right up to 25kgs and 115cm. For most children, that is between the ages of 5 and 6. It is also one of only 2 car seats that allows your child to be safely in a 5 point harness past 18kgs in South Africa. It’s passed the strictest crash tests in the world and I am SO lucky to have one for my daughter.

A mirror for the back headrest of my car

…so that Charly can always see me in my rearview mirror and I can keep an eye on her too. I WISH I had thought of this when she was little and miserable in her infant seat, because I have no doubt it would have soothed her and it would have made it so much easier to check on her rather than trying to twist around while driving to check on her. It is even better having it with her rear-facing than it was before I realised she should still be rear facing, and she was facing forward; because even then I had to take my eyes off the road to look back at her to check on her or to calm her by letting her see my face.

We have been using this since we received it as a media drop to try over a year ago. We have tried loads of other products, some of which are really lovely, but this shampoo specifically has no competition as yet. Charly has amazing hair, silky soft with gorgeous curls (that are tangle prone) and she is ALWAYS busy (or sick – thanks nursery-school). By rights, her hair should be dirty after an hour of being washed. But even when she has had awful fevers, her hair stays clean for ages with this and doesn’t ever look greasy or dirty.

The gorgeous handmade mahogany giant cot and compactum? We used the cot twice and the compactum has only ever held our clothing. The camp cot was amazing. Recovering from a c-section, the top level of the cot was the perfect height for me to be able to pick her up and put her down from my bed to feed in the night. She used it on the lowest setting for about a year. Then a playpen. When we went away earlier this year, it was SO easy to just fold it down, put it in its bag and pack it in a small space in the boot of the car. We popped it open, and she slept through the night in it next to our bed even after not sleeping in it for well over a year. Recently, she has been sleeping in it next to my bed when she is sick or I am sick and running between her bedroom and ours is just not manageable.

But the very very best thing about it? From the day we brought her home at 3 days old to today at 3 and a half years, we have used the changing mat on it for all nappies, frequent outfit changes, and post-bath drying and dressing. It is the absolute perfect height that lets you do what you need to without killing your back (Brett, my mom and I have all only ever used it for changes).

We bought this when we were told we needed to start introducing solids at around 5 and a half months. It still has pride of place in our lounge and has grown with her beautifully. Although she does occasionally sit at the dining room table on a chair, she still moves around a lot and has to kneel to sit comfortably over her plate. She (and I) prefer to wheel her high chair up to the table (it is easy to adjust it down to the dining table’s level) when she wants to eat with us. And when she wants to sit and watch Banana’s in Pajamas, I can wheel her over there, pop on the little brakes and Brett and I can catch up on the day while she giggles. Almost the whole thing clips apart easily, so it is insanely easy to clean; which is good because she also uses it for playdough and painting.

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Experts: Mobile Developers

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How to: Buying Apps

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How Tablets Enhance Learning For Young Users

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With holidays just around the corner and the glorious sun coming out to play, we’ve curated a list of family fun and educational trips for your family. This is for Cape parents and visitors only. Watch this space for other areas coming soon. Learn & Play Image courtesy of roomsforafrica.com The Cape Town… Read the Post

EdTech Expert: Siobhan Thatcher

EdTech is a hot buzz word around the air right now. Being involved in education and technology we take this very seriously and consulted with an expert on the matter. Tell us about yourself and your background? After leaving school in 2002, I studied Journalism and Linguistics at Rhodes University, thinking I’d end up… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Sibella Knott-Craig

This week we’re happy to introduce you to the founder and CEO of Tribage (the company that makes Xander apps) and many other apps and digital books, Sibella Knott-Craig. Tell us about yourself? My name is Sibella Knott-Craig and I just love to laugh. I qualified as a chartered accountant and made a… Read the Post

Our favourite apps for kids (Part 1)

We’ve spent some time online playing and learning and have come up with a list of some of our favourite apps available on various platforms for kids. Of course each app offers its own educational aspect and a buckets of fun. Try out some of these and let us know what you think. … Read the Post

Xander Mom: Wangari

This week and we have awesome working mom and blogger, Wangari, all the way from Nairobi, Kenya. She took some time out to talk to us about her lovely family, parenting and her blog. Tell us about yourself? My name is Wangari and I am a wife, mother, entrepreneur as well as a… Read the Post

Olympics, young children and competition

“The more you dream, the farther you get.” – Michael Phelps, Olympic-medal winning swimmer (current) As I decadently indulged in watching the Rio Olympics (lazily & horizontally), I marvelled at what I saw: superhuman ability to dig deep, to invite pain and to fearlessly sacrifice. I can’t help but feel torn about the… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Charlene

This week’s Xander Mom is Charlene from the Pretty Please Charlie blog. She took some time out of her very busy schedule to chat to us about her lovely family and her awesome blog. Tell us a bit about yourself? My name is Charlene and I am wife to an amazing man and… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Shan Vijendranath

Meet this week’s Xander Mom, Shan Vijendranath from the you, baby & i blog. She is a busy mom of two but found some time to chat to us about her blog and her family. Tell us about yourself? I’m Shan – Wife to Vije Vijendranath, Mom to Kitana (3-years-old) and Kiaan (8-months-old). I’m a… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Maz Halliday

Meet Maz Halliday from the Caffeine and Fairydust lifestyle and parenting blog. She chatted with us about her family, her blog and few other things. Tell us about yourself? I am a senior Fashion Designer supplying ladies fashion to one of our country’s leading retailers, and at night my name changes to Mom… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Thando Msomi

Meet Xander Mom, Thando Msomi from the Modern Zulu Mom blog. She spoke to us about her family, her blog and gave us some great advice to deal with dinner time and managing it all. Tell us about yourself? My name (Thando) means love isiZulu and I’ve made it my life-mission to live… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Karen Du Toit

Meet Karen Du Toit from MomAgain@40 blog. She chatted to us about her family and her blog and shared her unique insight into have a small child around the house. Tell us about yourself? I became a mother a second time around after the age of 40. I got remarried, and I already… Read the Post

Kid Friendly Restaurants in Cape Town

It is often a challenging to choose a restaurant to take your kids to, because not only do you want them to enjoy the food, you also want them to have fun. Crush Mag Online has put together a list of places that have something interesting for the little ones to do. Take a look before you plan… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Zayaan Schroeder

Meet our latest Xander Mom, Zayaan Schroeder from Cape Town. She took some time out of her very busy schedule to chat to us about her blog, her family and gave us some awesome tips for parents. Tell us about yourself? I’m a writer by trade and a geek by nature. From gaming… Read the Post

Pokémon Go and your kids

Whether you’re into gaming or not, you’ve most likely heard of (or been knocked over by a distracted player holding their phone at eye-level) Pokémon GO, a treasure-hunt game based on your actual location. Now before you go downloading this app for your dearest darling to be part of the global movement, we have… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Bronwyn Hoedemaker

Meet Bronwyn Hoedemaker of the MotherCityMom blog. She chatted to us and shared some gems of wisdom for parents with young kids. Tell us about yourself? I’m basically a juggler by profession. When I’m not working as a transcriptionist I’m juggling blog writing, snapchat snapping, instagramming, photo-taking, dog walking, product testing, cooking, and… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Sharon Van Wyk

This week’s Xander mom balances work and family well and hosts an awesome parenting/ lifestyle blog. Meet Sharon Van Wyk of The Blessed Barrenness. Tell us about yourself? Hey everyone, my name is Sharon and I’m a 44-year-old working mom of two precious little girls, Ava & Hannah. I became a mom later in… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Melissa Delacroix

Meet Xander Mom Melissa Delacroix from George. She spoke to us about her blog, parenting and her growing family. Tell us about yourself? My name is Melissa, I am 27 years old and live in the lovely town of George. I am a busy mom and currently 27 weeks pregnant with my second… Read the Post

Learn to spell with Xander

There has been a fair amount of work going on behind the scenes at the Xander office. New apps and new language translations coming. We are very proud to have been approached by the WOW Programme in partnership with the University of Stellenbosch to develop and launch a suite of Afrikaans spelling apps to assist… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Julie Kynaston

This week’s Xander Mom is Julie. She took some time out to share some awesome mom/ blogger knowledge and tips with us. Tell us about yourself. I’m Mom to three of the best kids in Cape Town – Ilan (5), Kira (2.5) and Judah (2). I hooked myself a surfer husband from Durban… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Hayley Malan

Meet our latest Xander Mom, Hayley Malan. She chatted to us about her blog, Hayley’s Joys, her family, balancing a busy life and shared some tips with us too. Tell us about yourself? My name is Hayley Malan. I’m a financial services professional by day & blogger/writer by night. I’m also a wife… Read the Post

Xander Dad: Craig Lotter

Meet Craig, our awesome Xander Dad who chatted to us about his two gorgeous girls, technology and dad stuff. Tell us about yourself? My name is Craig Lotter, I’m 36 years old, and I’m a senior software developer at Touchwork. I’m happily married, live in the beautiful coastal town of Gordon’s Bay, and… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Lindi Mogale

Say hi to another awesome blogger we love here at Xander. We spoke to Lindi Mogale from A Well Heeled Woman about life, family and blogging. Tell us about yourself? I am a wife and mom of 2 boys. During the day I work in the field of change management. I love to… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Heather Step

Our latest Xander Mom has more than one blog, a full time job as a Montessori teacher and a 3 year old. Meet Heather Step of One Step at a Time and SA Mom Blogs. Tell us about yourself? My name is Heather, I’m a Montessori preschool teacher who also likes to blog…. Read the Post

Xander Mom: Cindy Alfino

Cindy is another one of our amazing Xander Moms. Read all about herself, her family and her award-winning blog. Tell us about yourself? Hello! I’m Cindy, although I don’t often hear anyone call me that anymore. Right now I only answer to “Mooooooom”, sometimes even if it’s not my own child. Who I am outside… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Belinda Mountain

Our fourth Xander Mom is Belinda Mountain from Cape Town. She tells us about managing a family, her favourite things about South Africa and her blog. Tell us about yourself? I’m a writer, business owner and mother who lives in Cape Town, South Africa. I dislike windy weather, raisins and parallel parking. And I… Read the Post

KamCare: a RE bale

We spoke to Monica Hammes from the KamCare a RE bale programme in Pretoria about their programme and the learners they serve. Tell us about your Programme? Our programme, sometimes known as a RE bale, is an English reading programme using the Reading Eggs software, sponsored by the Click Foundation. The programme is part of the… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Angie Batis

Meet another Xander Mom, Angie Batis. She told us a bit about herself, her blog, her family and parenting choices. Tell us about about yourself? Hi my name is Angie, I’m a mom, a wife, a photographer, a blogger, I co-own Mr Big Stuff Diner in Braamfontein and I own an online social media company called… Read the Post

Three Reasons Every Child Should Fly a Drone

Last month in Mediatech (our library-based tech center), I did something rather insane. I set up a drone flying station. The idea was that anybody — young or old — could try to take off and land a toy drone on a large platform. From a safety and logistics point of view, the idea is… Read the Post

Xander Mom: Elsabe Van Der Colff

We’re doing a series of reviews on some of our favourite mommy bloggers and women who form part of our Xander Moms programme. This week we spoke to Elsabe Van Der Colff from the lovely little town of Montague in the Western Cape. Tell us about yourself? A mother of two, a wife of one and a… Read the Post

Aitsa: Dwarsriver Valley Initiative

What is Aitsa? On the 15th of January 2014 the Dwarsriver Valley Initiative opened an after care centre in the small village of Kylemore just outside Stellenbosch for 25 children. This year the Aitsa! After Care centre caters for 105 children, ages 5 to 8, every weekday afternoon from 1pm to 5pm. The centre provides… Read the Post

MRP Foundation: TechED

For the last two years the MRP Foundation has been running its technology-based education programme, TechEd in KwaZulu Natal and working closely with local and global partners. Read more about what they are doing here.

How We Learn

I was watching one of the teachers at my daughter’s little school yesterday. She patiently held out the bottom part of a tower for my almost-three-year-old to attach the remaining part. This experience was riddled with frustration for my daughter and exhibited ultimate patience by the teacher. But completing the tower surmounted in a flood… Read the Post

The funny things kids say

Image courtesy of Cafemom It was World Read Aloud Day on the 24th, in which people are encouraged to participate in the promotion and enjoyment of reading out loud. But what happens when the youngsters are old enough to read themselves, or at least attempt to decipher a few words on their own? We’ve… Read the Post

International Mother Language Day (21 Feb 2016)

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.” – Nelson Mandela We’re still talking about all the things we love in February. And how fitting that on the 21st of this month we… Read the Post

Kids and Pets

Images courtesy of Petco February is the month of love, and what love is sweeter than that between a child and their first pet? We automatically think of kids and dogs playing in the garden, but there are a number of other, smaller and more interesting pets to consider for those with space restrictions or… Read the Post

Showing love to your children

Not leaving: an act of trust and love, often deciphered by children” ― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief Image courtesy of Jay Blessed In February every year we are surrounded by the images and sounds of romantic love, from heart-shaped balloons in the checkout aisle to boxes of chocolate; there’s no escaping the madness. But let’s… Read the Post

How technology has changed the way in which children learn

“We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world.” – David Warlick Courtesy of WikiSpaces Technology is growing at an exponential pace, and it seems as if new gadgets… Read the Post

Why comic books are good for your children

“Words and pictures are yin and yang. Married, they produce a progeny more interesting than either parent.” ― Dr. Seuss If one of your new year’s resolutions is encouraging your children to read more, then you should revisit comic books as a way to get them hooked on reading. Far from being a mindless mass… Read the Post

Behind the scenes of building an app

“Our products are designed to give parents peace of mind knowing that their children can learn while playing with our mother-tongue apps.” Sibella Knott-Craig, founder of Xander Apps. There is a lot of work that goes into building a good children’s app, and most of it is behind the scenes. Let’s explore the basics of… Read the Post

On being mindful

“Mindfulness is about being fully awake in our lives. It is about perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment. ” – Jon Kabat-Zinn. It’s a brand new year and the festive stress and excitement are behind us. As we head home and get ready for work and the new school year, we all have the… Read the Post

Why we love Lego

LEGO produces nearly 20 billion LEGO bricks a year – or 36,000 a minute, and also makes 306 million (tiny) tyres a year – more than any other ‘tyre’ manufacturer. Lego blocks are part of every childhood, and we have surely all spent many happy hours as children building a tiny Lego fantasy world…. Read the Post

Remembering Madiba

“Today I learnt a lot about the way Mr Mandela grew up: (his childhood) is just like mine and yours. I admire him for the fact that he was prepared to die for freedom. When I grow up I want to be just like him.” – Simphiwe Maluleke (12), Boepakitso Primary School. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela,… Read the Post

The worst gifts ever

“A re-gifted ‘free hug’ coupon.” – Devin W. Most of us have spent weeks planning, budgeting and making gift lists for the festive season. But while we were planning to buy or make something totally appropriate and spot-on, somebody out there has been eyeing the lavender soaps, or going through the bottom of the… Read the Post

Get ready for the school holiday

“In the summer, the days were long, stretching into each other. Out of school, everything was on pause and yet happening at the same time, this collection of weeks when anything was possible.”―Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride Although the children might be looking forward to a few weeks without school, many parents – working… Read the Post

Gifts for teachers.

Of all the hard jobs around, one of the hardest is being a good teacher. – Maggie Gallagher If you’re lucky enough, your child loves their teacher, and wants nothing more than to show it with a special year-end gift. We’ve done some research online and found that although teachers love the idea of getting gifts… Read the Post

The art of giving

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ― Winston S. Churchill We’ve been hearing ‘Jingle Bells’ on repeat in the supermarket since November, when stores started counting down the shopping days ‘till Christmas. It’s so easy to get caught up in the frenzy of discounts, shopping… Read the Post

Help your young child prepare for the exams

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.” – Dr. Seuss Testing starts at a young age It would seem as if exams and tests are starting… Read the Post

Why play is so important for your child’s development

Physical competence is fundamental to cognitive development during early childhood. -Maria Montessori- How physical activity encourages cognitive development. From the first days of life, children begin using their bodies to learn about the world around them. Developing and mastering certain motor skills allows children greater mastery of themselves and their surrounding, and allows them… Read the Post

The symbolism and psychology of colour

Colors speak all languages. -Joseph Addison- Have you ever wondered why girls (at least in Western Culture) wear pink, and boys blue? Or why you love that particular shade of green, but yellow leaves you cold? Those that study the psychology of colour have an interesting take on the feeling that colours can evoke, and… Read the Post

How to raise a culturally aware child.

What children learn during the preschool years from family members, caregivers and other adults in their life will greatly impact how they will come to value, accept, and comfortably interact with diverse people. (From Scanva.org) Sometimes we are reluctant to raise the subject of differences with our children, afraid that by acknowledging differences, we… Read the Post

The value and role of sport

Sport has a unique power to attract, mobilize and inspire. By its very nature, sport is about participation. It is about inclusion and citizenship. It stands for human values such as respect for the opponent, acceptance of binding rules, teamwork and fairness, all of which are principles which are also contained in the Charter of… Read the Post

Communicating in a culturally diverse country

“Recognising that our beliefs and values are not the only way of seeing or doing things opens us up to learning about other perspectives.” From Kidsmatter.edu.au Image courtesy of Pexels.com Being able to communicate across cultural and language differences, is often a challenge worldwide, and one that we meet every day in South Africa. We… Read the Post

Getting Organised: Tips and Shortcuts for the busy family

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Benjamin Franklin Image Courtesy of Kaboompics Often it feels as if there are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done, especially for parents of young and school-going children. Here are some sensible tips and shortcuts for planning and making the most of the hours… Read the Post

Housework and chores

Spring has finally arrived, and many of us are thinking about cleaning the house, throwing out the clothes that are outgrown, and generally shaking things up. We think it’s a good idea to involve the whole family in cleaning and spring cleaning, even the youngest children. But how do we assign and manage chores? Here… Read the Post

White Lies

“My flatmate grew up on a farm and was told by her parents that their TV only worked when it rained.” Image Courtesy of Kaboompics We’ve all lied to our kids. Shocking thought, I know, but quite true. And we’re not even talking the most popular white lies out there, like the myth of the… Read the Post

Wonder Woman as a role model

“Frankly, Wonder Woman is psychological propaganda for the new type of woman who should, I believe, rule the world.” Dr. William Moulton Marston, original creator of the Wonder Woman character. During Women’s Month, we consider the role of women in all areas of modern life. One of the most iconic women of our time must… Read the Post

The history of apps and their place in our lives

“App”: noun, Computers, Informal. 1. an application, typically a small, specialized program downloaded onto mobile devices. Image courtesy of Pexels We’ve all heard the catchphrase – ‘There’s an app for that’. Well, with the number of apps being developed on a daily basis, this might almost literally be true. These days, customers download more… Read the Post

Raising girls to be powerful women

“Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” – Anne Sweeney As we start Women’s Month 2015 let us not forget that all women start out as little girls. It’s up to us as parents, guardians and role models to raise girls who… Read the Post

Mother tongue learning – A bridge to multilingualism

Image Courtesy of Shutterstock “Educationally, a child cannot learn the facts and ideas of what is been communicated unless he has an understanding of the language of instruction.” – European Journal of Social Science, 2009 At Xander Apps we are passionate about the importance of mother tongue education, and we make it our mission to… Read the Post

Tantrums and Tears

Image courtesy of http://www.freeimages.com/ There is nothing more embarrassing than being that family – the one with the red-faced toddler throwing the mother of all tantrums in a restaurant. Or at the checkout aisle of the supermarket, or the car park. Anywhere, really. Every parent dreads that moment when their child loses all semblance to… Read the Post

Xander Xhosa Apps turn one on Mandela Day 2015

We can hardly believe that our Xander Xhosa apps are one year old on Mandela Day. What started as one entrepreneurial idea has turned into a suite of 18 educational Apps for children in five African Languages. Sibella Knott-Craig’s vision was to create an opportunity for mother-tongue learning through the medium of interactive play, and… Read the Post

Role Models in the Media: Who do your children look up to?

“In today’s 24/7 media environment, in which kids may be spending more time with media than they are with their parents, choosing positive role models is more important than ever.” Commonsense Media Image courtesy of Public Domain Images We all know the child in preschool who is so fascinated with Spider Man that he comes… Read the Post

Basic Computer Skills for Kids

“Teaching in the Internet age means we must teach tomorrow’s skills today.” – Jennifer Fleming The world is moving impossibly fast, and it can be intimidating to prepare and equip your children properly. But one thing we do know, is that computers and the internet are here to stay and that our kids will be… Read the Post

Can children still just be children today?

I was privileged enough to grow up on a farm, where we literally had stones that we pushed around in lieu of toy cars, while making excited revving noises. Not for a minute did I feel that I was missing out, or that my life was anything less than fulfilled, happy and carefree. But what… Read the Post

#XanderMoms winter recipes

We’ve previously asked our #XanderMoms how they use and manage technology in their lives. Now that the days are shorter and we are spending more time indoors, we thought we would ask them to share some of their favourite go-to recipes with us. We’re keen to know how they keep their families warm and cosy… Read the Post

Playing with your food

Remember the mashed potato train? Or the aeroplane spoon with the zooming noises? Moms have tried in a hundred different way to make food interesting, and to get kids to eat their veggies. Some moms take this to new heights, and there is a delightful trend of wild and wonderful lunchbox creations making their way to… Read the Post

What #XanderApps can do for you. We started with the basics, and so should you.

From birth to three years children start to develop basic hand-eye skills, such as reaching for and grasping objects, feeding and dressing themselves (or at least attempting to), and begin to recognise concepts of place and direction. They also start to develop the ability to manipulate objects using finer motor skills. From three to five… Read the Post

Cath Jenkin, digital mom and tech groundbreaker

“ I know and believe that we have a community here that’s like no other, and that we live in a country of possibility.” Cath Jenkin is a parenting columnist, copywriter and Managing Editor for DigiKids, one of our favourite South African parenting and tech sites. How does Cath manage to balance her demanding career… Read the Post

Sibella Knott-Craig: Xander’s Creator and the Mom who started it all

Our super #XanderMom for this week is Sibella Knott-Craig. To say that Sibella is a busy working mom would be an understatement. As CEO and co-founder of Tribage, she manages to look after three young children while building a truly African tech company and – of course, taking the time to be mother to our… Read the Post

Why your Mom is awesome

“Motherhood: All love begins and ends there.” —Robert Browning We’re feeling a bit sentimental this week, what with Mother’s day coming up next month. But let’s forget about the cards and the chocolates, and examine what the love and attention of a mother, father or caregiver can truly do for a child. What is… Read the Post

“It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan.” Eleanor Roosevelt Our very organised mom this week is Leslie Maliepaard, one of the driving forces behind the Renewable Energy solutions business Charge Energy. “My daughter is now 3 years old and at pre-primary school. It’s a challenge to jam pack the… Read the Post

Tanya Kovarsky: Award-winning blogger and provider of mumspiration

And now as promised, some more from our #XanderMoms. Tanya Kovarsky (owner of parenting blog, Rattle & Mom) is a dynamic working mother, and our first question to her was how she manages to balance the demands of being a mother and an entrepreneur? Tanya carves out some time for herself by saying no to… Read the Post

Playing: Allowing children to grow and learn

“Play is the work of the child.” – Maria Montessori The school holidays are just around the corner for most of us. The kids can’t wait to get away from the routine of school, but many parents dread filling the days and keeping their kids busy. What is the best approach with regards… Read the Post

Xander Apps team attends The Barn Khayelitsha launch

Let’s think of our problems as opportunities – Helen Zille The Bandwidth Barn has recently launched The Barn Khayelitsha as a community-based incubator which focuses on areas in which there is a market need and an opportunity for growth. This building will provide much-needed business services and infrastructure to targeted communities, and offer a friendly… Read the Post

How to choose the right app for your child: The good, the bad and the ugly of apps.

By now you should know that we here at XanderApps love apps and the many worlds that they can open up for kids and parents alike. There are, however, good and bad apps out there. How do we choose the best and most appropriate apps for our children’s age and developmental stage, that follow the… Read the Post

The place of technology in our lives: Finding a balance

In this century, the mass media have come to rival parents, school, and religion as the most influential institution in children’s lives. – Media and Values Magazine We all hear about the benefits of educational games and applications, but secretly we also worry about how much screen time is appropriate for our children. One of the… Read the Post

The Paperless Classroom is coming to a school near you

“The future depends on what you do today.” ― Mahatma Gandhi Apps and related hardware such a tablets and touch screen devices are part of the modern knowledge landscape. They can have a huge positive impact on education and early learning, especially in countries in Africa, where the education system is often under tremendous strain… Read the Post

Introduction to our SuperMoms

“Any mother could perform the jobs of several air traffic controllers with ease.” – Lisa Alther We were lucky enough to be able to interview some tech-savvy working moms, and get their input around time management, coping skills and the impact of technology in their lives. We will be sharing their insights and tips over… Read the Post

Kids and Creativity. Is your child the next #ToddlerStylist?

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. – Ralph Waldo Emerson Parents have been trying to dress their kids sensibly for as long as we can remember. But what happens when the tables are turned? One mom decided to find out, with hilarious results…. Read the Post

Help your kids cope with school related stress.

“Study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in”. Leonardo da Vinci. The new year can be a time of excitement for kids and families alike. New school, new friends, so many fresh opportunities. And yet, this enthusiasm can just as easily turn to negativity. Who hasn’t been faced with… Read the Post

Multilingualism for young children. Yes or No.

‘To have another language is to possess a second soul’. Charlemagne In South Africa, language and the educational language of choice can be a touchy subject, and one that many parents approach with trepidation. There is so much information out there that moms can feel intimidated. What is the best thing to do for your… Read the Post

A reason to feel better about passing your ipad to your kids

Until now, little research has been done with younger children, specifically preschool and early-elementary children. Below are the findings of a report that concentrates on reaching children in informal learning environments learning through apps made available for use by children during their leisure or out-of-school time. “A mobile media revolution that is changing the lives of… Read the Post

Writing for children

“You must write for children in the same way you do for adults, only better.” MAXIM GORKY

A wet afternoon and a house full of children?

Unlike the TV that passively entertains, iPad apps can engage children for the same amount of time, however this time is more beneficial, as it is interactive and teaches children new skills. Excellent apps for children exist where they can draw, do puzzles, learn about other countries, or dance to their favourite nursery rhymes. We… Read the Post

KykNet Interview 7.8.2014

If you missed the show you can still see it here – we think its pretty cool. Educational apps for children to make traveling easier – no lost puzzle pieces and ink pen lids!

Most Innovative Award

Slimkop App is awarded the certificate of excellence for Most Innovative Product at the Baba Indaba 2014! Thank you to all our supporters and congrats to our team who have worked so tirelessly xx

Three, two, one, GO!

The time has come: We’re launching! Our weekend at the Baba Indaba can be described as an Epic Quest to – Make all South African children tri-lingual Reach every unsuspecting parent – if the iPads don’t do the trick, the chocolates do Repeat the same story 35 000 times So, what is the story? “We’re an educational… Read the Post

Cookies anyone?

Here’s feel good story for some early morning inspiration. We love the epicness! http://khayelitshacookies.co.za/k2/ “In 2005 the company started making hand-baked cookies with four women in Khayelitsha. Today we proudly employ 50 women from Khayelitsha who we have trained and grown into successful entrepreneurs. They hand-bake 30,000 cookies per day in a HACCP-accredited factory in Ndabeni,… Read the Post

Can gaming make the world a better place?

Watch this epic talk by game designer and author, Jane McGonigal. She believes that gamers are developing all the skills necessary to solve the world’s problems. Why? Because they are self-motivated, they believe an epic win is within their reach, they are inspired to collaborate, they trust, they are blissfully productive and love a world saving mission. http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world#t-712218… Read the Post

Ticket give-away

Dear Phindie, Adalene & Marna, Thank you for liking http://slimkopapp.co.za/ We are thrilled to let you know that you have been selected as one of the winners of our Cape Town Baba Indaba ticket give aways. Please let us know where you would like to have your two tickets, worth R120, delivered to, alternatively, you can… Read the Post

It’s showtime!

Slimkop is going to be on the KykNet Dagbreek show! Be part of the action and download your app in the App Store at http://slimkopapp.co.za Watch this space for broadcasting details.

Congratulations!

CONGRATULATIONS to our competition winners! Two Baba Indaba tickets are on their way to you: Phindie Nsele, Adalene Joubert Kellerman & Marna Esterhuysen Schnetler! Join us at the Indaba from between 1-3 August at the CTICC for lots of fun and many more give-aways.

Baba Indaba

Find us at the Baba Indaba CTICC from 1-3 August 2014

Where does Xander come from?

Xander with an “X” Once upon a time there was a little dinosaur called Xander. He descended from the greatest of beasts ever to walk the planet, but he was small and curious. His parents called him Xander, with an X, named after the most fearsome dinosaur of them all, the mighty Tyronosaurus-Rex. One day… Read the Post

Xhosa App

Our Xhosa app for counting from 1-10 is now also available in the App Store. Thank you to Sisipho and Mrs Ndlebe for your help! We’re loving all the positive feedback.

Thank you Macaroon.co

Why I love www.macaroon.co? Its fun and trendy, local and online. They help mom’s keep calm and carry on with beautifully crafted clothes labels, gift tags, weekly planners and personalised stationary. Not only are their products perfect for my own use, but they are also thoughtful gifts. From the comfort of my chair at home. What… Read the Post

WIN Baba Indaba ticket for two

Be the lucky winner of two tickets to the Cape Town Baba Indaba 1-3 August 2014 at CTICC. Forward our website to your friends (www.slimkopapp.co.za), or “Like” us Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ekisnslimkop/info) Include me in cc on your email: sibella@everafrica.com

QUOTE

“The only way to cultivate fearlessness in our daughters and other young women is by example. If they see their mothers and other women in their lives going forward despite fear, they’ll know its possible.” Gloria Steinem

Calling all clever children

Do you know you can find Xander in the App Store now to learn and play games with ABC, 123 and Shapes and Colours in Afrikaans? Download Slimkop.